Dupre Kelly of The Lords of The Underground sworn in as Newark city councilman

From a platinum rapper to politics, Dupre Kelly aka “DoItAll” can certainly do it all. Kelly is now officially the voice of the people after being sworn in as city councilman for Newark.

He and other elected officials were inaugurated Friday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Dupre Kelly city councilman

The Newark-born rapper won the West Ward council seat over 35-year-old Chigozie Onyema, a lawyer and former state official.

The city council seat makes Kelly, 51, the first major hip-hop artist elected to public office, according to Kelly.

“I am the first platinum-selling hip hop artist in the nation of the United States of America to ever win an election to an official seat,” Kelly said at the Robert Treat Hotel, where supporters gathered after polls closed.

HBCU bred

Kelly is an HBCU alumni of Shaw University and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

After success in the music industry, Kelly returned to Newark to give back to his community. According to his website, Kelly founded the non-profit 211 Community Impact whose mission is to ” foster action for change by providing innovative community educational programs, public policy information and resources.”

Musically, he’s known as “DoItAll”, one third of the platinum selling rap group The Lords of The Underground. The 90s group was most famous for the hit “Chief Rocka”.

Kelly ran for Newark city council in 2018 but unfortunately lost. But he never wavered. He ran again in 2022, this time being victorious.